Green Deal - TrustMark's View
23 Nov 2011
Joined-up thinking will determine whether the Green Deal withers or flourishes, argues TrustMark chairman Liz Male
Let me just state for the record that TrustMark, the Government-backed scheme that helps homeowners find trustworthy tradesmen to work on their homes, wholeheartedly welcomes the Green Deal.
Tackling the energy wastage in the UK's existing housing stock, which currently accounts for a quarter of the nation's carbon emissions, is critical to achieving our carbon reduction targets and helping people live more sustainably. It could potentially also bring a huge economic benefit to parts of the construction sector - particularly those trades involved in insulating a building's fabric or installing heating systems and controls.
But (and there's always a but) while the Green Deal's 20-year vision of 26 million energy efficient homes is inspiring and challenging in equal measure, my fear is that the scheme may not survive beyond infancy if there is not parity between its standards and the consumer safeguards that already exist elsewhere in the repair, maintenance and improvement (RMI) sector.
I can already see that the implementation of the Green Deal will almost certainly trigger a huge wave of associated building work and other home improvements.
I'm thinking about work that technically falls outside of the
'approved measures' of the Green Deal but that is central to its
success. Typically repair work that's needed to the fabric of
a property before energy efficiency improvements can even be
considered (tackling damp before a wall can be insulated, for
example). Or even simple repairs that would ensure the Green
Deal measures do achieve the energy savings that are promised (such
as fixing slipped roof tiles to ensure all that lovely loft
insulation is not in vain).
Consider also the scenario of householders who want to proceed
with Green Deal work on their home (maybe internal wall insulation
in a hard-to-treat home), but decide to get the kitchen redone or
that big new extension built at the same time - "we might as well
do it now darling, while we've got the builders in…"
In my mind, the idea that there could be two-tier consumer protection, with one set of accredited tradesmen working to one standard for Green Deal and to another standard for the non-Green Deal works, becomes nonsensical if any part of a job goes badly.
Quite understandably, homeowners will not distinguish between various schemes or customer care regimes covering different elements of what they see as a single project. And if they feel let down, the reputation and credibility of the Green Deal will inevitably be the first to suffer. Given the political profile being given to the Green Deal, you can just imagine the Daily Mail headlines if even one part of a home improvement project goes wrong.
TrustMark's strongly held belief that a common approach to
standards is needed is why we have been extending our help to the
various parties involved in getting the Green Deal initiative off
the ground. Drawing on our experience establishing TrustMark, we
are putting ourselves in the consumer's shoes and trying to ensure
there is joined-up thinking between the several government
departments with an interest in the scheme and the RMI sector
overall.
These include the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC),
which is leading the Green Deal, the Department for Communities and
Local Government (DCLG), which covers Competent Person schemes and
the Department for Business Innovation and Skills (BIS), whose
remit includes TrustMark, construction in general and consumer
protection.
As an independent not-for-profit body, we can look at solutions to potential issues free from the shackles of self-interest and the need for sector-specific lobbying.
TrustMark contributes by sharing our knowledge of what works and what does not in terms of running an oversight body and achieving tradesman accreditation via a system of 'scheme operators' - a model that has worked very successfully for us over the past six years.
This allows sector-by-sector vetting and supervision to take place at a far faster pace than attempting to make progress firm-by-firm. When it comes to effective installer accreditation systems, the industry has already amassed valuable knowledge: DECC does not need to reinvent the wheel.
At the same time, ensuring that our own house is in order, we at TrustMark are reviewing our own standards and approach in order to close any gaps that may exist between what is already working in the RMI sector and the proposed aspirations for Green Deal tradesmen. Where such gaps are too large to be realistically resolved in the short time available, we will suggest pragmatic solutions that work in the real world to get the Green Deal up and running effectively by the October 2012 deadline.
And before you think I'm worrying unnecessarily, keep in mind that this joined-up thinking about standards, codes of conduct, insurance provisions, quality checks and all the other elements that create a robust scheme has never been more urgent.
For just at the time when the Green Deal is being introduced, the Government will also be rearranging the whole consumer protection landscape. The consumer protection proposals currently out for consultation from BIS will impact on the roles of bodies like the OFT, local authority trading standards departments and charities like Citizen's Advice. All bodies that TrustMark presently works with and relies on for coordinated advice and help to homeowners.
Inevitably the new environment for consumer empowerment and choice, together with the new, more efficient and streamlined enforcement regime that will have to sort out any mess if the cowboys break through the safeguards, will take a bit of time to bed down. Hopefully not too much time.
You could argue that, in this period of flux, the last thing we should be doing is to launch a scheme that will break into 26 million homes to start a load of building work. But the environmentally conscious side of me says we cannot put off the major programme of work that is necessary to upgrade the energy efficiency of our existing building stock.
So the key to effective protection during the Green Deal's earliest days - and therefore the key to its long-term reputation too - will be the promotion of joined-up standards and coordination between all parts of the RMI sector including the new Green Deal team. This cannot be a time for departmental silos or squabbles over territory. We must work together.
TrustMark Chairman, Liz Male. www.trustmark.org.uk
END